Do Florida teachers deserve a $2,500 across-the-board raise?

Gov. Rick Scott says he will recommend that legislators approve adding $480 million to the education budget to give all full-time teachers a $2,500 pay raise.

Gov. Rick Scott, joined by Orange County schools superintendent Barbara Jenkins at right, announces he will seek $2,500 raises for teachers. (McClatchy photo)

In announcing the request, Gov. Scott said:

“We are at an exciting place in the history of Florida education – in large part due to the hard work of our teachers. Our students and teachers were recently ranked 6th for educational quality. On a recent international reading survey, our fourth-graders scored among the best in the world. And, the National Council on Teacher Quality ranked Florida teachers number one in the country in their 2012 survey.”

Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, said raises might be given only to teachers who score well on evaluations. Student performance on high-stakes tests is an important part of such evaluations.

Teachers have complained that the evaluation system is flawed.

Gov. Scott says he supports implementing the evaluation system – which is part of legislation he signed in 2011 – but that he thinks all teacher deserve the across-the-board raises.

Teachers in Florida average about $46,000 a year, which is $10,000 below the national average.

As we said in an editorial, Gov. Scott’s wish to be re-elected in 2014 belatedly has turned him into a fan of teachers and public education. It remains to be seen if he can get the pay raise through the Legislature.

What do you think? Do Florida teachers deserve a $2,500 across-the-board raise? Take our poll and/or leave a comment.